Retrieval operations to end even as 19 persons still missing
Three days after the Igbaras tragedy, rescue volunteers yesterday (Thursday) scoured the Tangyan River starting from the site where the ill-fated passenger jeepney fell up to the mouth of the river in Guimbal, Iloilo hoping to find more bodies.
But as of press time yesterday volunteers merely saw debris and logs stuck in some parts of the river. No dead bodies.
Nineteen individuals are still deemed missing.
A day earlier Igbaras Mayor James Esmeralda along with officials of the Philippine Coast Guard conducted an aerial survey of the areas where the river passes through. The aerial inspection also turned fruitless.
Meeting with Coast Guard officials and other volunteer rescue groups on Wednesday afternoon Esmeralda said that they have decided to end the search and retrieval operations today (Friday) noon.
Esmeralda said that the volunteers have already scoured all the possible areas where dead bodies could have stuck but to no avail. Groups were also sent to keep watch along the shorelines of Guimbal in case dead bodies reach the area. He said there is already nil possibility that they could still recover dead bodies.
Twenty-two cadavers have so far been recovered by volunteers.
Some cadavers are now being laid in the municipal gymnasium of Igbaras while others were brought in their respective homes by their families.
Some relatives of the missing persons interviewed hope that they could see their kin even if dead so they could offer descent burial.
Today, Friday, a mass to be led by Fr. Nicolasora, parish priest of Igbaras, will be held in Songsongan, Barasan the site of the overflow where the jeepney was carried away by strong water current.
Families and relatives of the casualties will hold a caravan from town proper to Songsongan at 7 a.m. Flowers will be thrown to the river after the mass in remembrance of those who lost their lives .
Meanwhile, families of those who died already started receiving financial aid of P5,000 each from the municipal government of Igbaras.
Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores also gave additional P1,000 for each of the victim's family.
Additional financial help are also expected from Rep. Janette Garin, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the provincial government of Iloilo.
Meanwhile, families of the casualties are also processing their claims from the insurance provider of the ill-fated jeepney.
Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. earlier said that he had asked officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in charge of the presidential bridges project to replace the current Songsongan overflow into a regular bridge.
Tupas said the river crossing which spans about 100 meters really need a bridge for the safety of the people.
It was learned that the Songsongan overflow is the only link of the communities in eleven upland barangays to the town proper.
Residents said the river always claims lives especially during stormy weather of every year.